Ray Whitney Continues To Be A Solid Addition For Dallas Stars

By Jonathan Katje

Jerome Miron – USA TODAY Sports

Since returning from a foot injury that cost him more than a month’s worth of games, Ray Whitney has delivered exactly the kind of scoring the Dallas Stars expected when they signed him last summer. The Stars continue to fight for a playoff spot, and if they get consistent scoring from veteran forwards like Whitney and Jaromir Jagr they should be in good shape for the postseason push.

Whitney had points in five of the eight games before his injury, but has been performing even better since his return. In 10 games in March, he was only held of the stat sheet twice. He finished the month with five goals and 10 points and is now seventh on the Stars with seven goals and 16 points. Whitney has also picked up his power play scoring in the past week, with two goals and four points with the man-advantage in the last three games for the Stars.

The Stars may end up glad that they signed Whitney for two seasons, as he once again looks like the player that scored 24 goals for the Phoenix Coyotes last season. While Jagr and Derek Roy only signed one-year deals and could be traded before the deadline or lost in free agency. The Stars have two dangerous scoring lines, as Jagr joins Jamie Benn on the top line and Whitney, Roy and Loui Eriksson come together on the second line. Next up for the Stars is a Monday meeting with the Anaheim Ducks, the first of three consecutive meetings between the two teams.

Jonathan Katje is an NHL senior writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JKatje or add him to you network on Google.